Week in my life vlog: reading about mothers, martyrs, legacies

A very grey, very busy winter week in New York with three good books

1:40 Of Woman Born
2:12 Is Mother Dead in progress
9:02 wrapping up Is Mother Dead
11:19 wrapping up Of Woman Born
14:34 Martyr! in progress
18:20 legacies

Books:
Is Mother Dead by Vigdis Hjorth (trans. Charlotte Barslund) (2020)
Of Woman Born: Motherhood as Experience and Institution by Adrienne Rich (1976)
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (2024)

Mentions:
@MatthewSciarappa

Socials:
Insta: @sdelphis
StoryGraph: @sdelphis

[nathansnook]

Eep! So happy to hear that Martyr! is making its mark on you. Roots and Routes! I can’t wait to hear the rest of your thoughts on it!

And oof, Is Mother Dead has been on my radar for a while, but didn’t realize how uncomfortable it was. Need to pick it up!

[SavidgeReads]

You’ve really made me want to read Is Mother Dead, I’ve been intrigued before but not actually tempted until now. Oh and Martyr. One day I want to see you perform live!

[yenasung]

Love it when we find the fast funny compelling read 🥲 i also agree with this assessment. So much heart ❤ oof that nyc winter sunset light 😍 glad to see you using your little penguin books ha! Every single time im absolutely floored by your singing shots!! I just can never get my mouth that open!!! Loving your hair lately 🤍

[casskrug]

i’ve been meaning to read hjorth for forever!! i think i have will and testament on my shelf waiting to be read. you and nathan also have me super interested in martyr! glad to hear you enjoyed it

[thelefthandedreader]

About Is Mother Dead: my experience was I felt surprisingly “triggered” is the best way to put it. Like I could physically feel the sense of abandonment the main character was experiencing. Especially since her mother was SO close to her when they were both in the same city. The scenes where she’s physically trying to catch her mother at her home or on the sidewalk.

I for some reason found myself imagining if that were to happen to me and my mom. Oh, it was gut-wrenching. And so, it was a marvelous read, for me. The way a book can make that experience happen without being didactic. Chef’s kiss!

Martyr: I just finished this book myself and was also blown away by it. Just simply so satisfying, inventive. A wow. I miss NYC. I am due for a visit - while there, I exhaust myself. No matter the time of year, there’s a few experiences that MUST happen - I must run in Central Park and then, ideally, ride a bike around the perimeter. I must, later in my stay, head out very early, take as many subway rides as it takes to get to the High Line early, hardly any people, and run that. It’s a short run but oh so rich! I must also go to the Strand bookstore and various other musts that are just little enjoyments. Whatever else happens, great!

[ameliareads]

I've read three books by Vigdis Hjorth so far and she definitely became one of my new favourite authors.
Of course the view in Is Mother Dead? is subjective, but it was the only POV I was interested in, because of the way the story was told and the spiralling and hypnotic voice it was narrated in. I loved the way this book was written. And I totally understood the urge for closure, as much as I know that if you want peace in a situation like the narrator finds herself in, you have to stop looking for answers and move on.
I highly recommend reading Will and Testament if you want more of this story.

[MJ-in-Canada]

“Martyr!” is worth the hype, in my opinion. I feel that it’s as much a story about the power of being alive as it is about death. I wonder if it’s the aliveness that gives the title its exclamation mark.

[aleksismil]

Wonderful vlog Sophie. Loved your thoughts on motherhood and Hjorth's book.
Not related to books or reading — I do hope you get some days off during the week as you work on Sundays. I know that for some off days are a luxury due to the precarious character of our existence in this toxic capitalistic system.

[thelefthandedreader]

Sophie, I wanted to let you know I MAY be starting House of Mirth this wk. I read a few pages the other wk and thought…maybe. Let me know if you’re in the mood to start reading it. I think it may be one you want to get to. I know you’ll be starting East of Eden . I need to dip into that one to see if I want to start it in the near future. I’ll be scouting around for a used copy or the library

[DogEaredMusings]

So excited to read Martyr!! Loved your review of it!

[farzanaali]

You should read “Die, My Love” by Ariana Harwicz. Its on motherhood, and other things as well! Disturbing yet introspective